Fuse panel



.Il-ily 3, 19345. Q AA (goof)` 1,965,099

"FUSE PANEL Filed Jax). 23, 1932 /0 Z IN V EN TOR.

TORNEY Patented July 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application January 23,

17 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in fuse panels of the type having combined therewith an electric switch mechanism.

Fuse panels as heretofore designed embody, in so far as the main purpose of the fuse is concerned, the disadvantage of making it possible to insert a relatively nonfusible conducting member, such as a coin, into the fuse receptacle of the panel together with the burned out fuse, whereby the current may be by-passed around the fuse. Since a coin usually presents but little resistance to the flow of current therethrough, and has as high a melting point as the electric conductors, the latter may in the event of a large overload, as in the case of a short circuit, become sufficiently hot to start a fire at points where the conductors may be in direct contact with the parts of the building or structure in which they are employed. It is therefore one of the principal objects of my invention to provide means on a fuse panel of the character described to prevent the insertion of any conducting material other than the fuse member in the fuse receptacles of the panel to effect a completion of an electric circuit.

Fuse panels as heretofore constructed have also allowed for the insertion and withdrawal of fuses in and from their receptacles while the line power switch of the panel is in closed position. Such manipulation of the fuse causes a making or breaking of the electric circuit and the creation in each instance of a destructive electric arc between the fuse and its receptacle, which if repeated sufliciently may permanently injure the panel. With this in mind it is a further object of my invention to provide means on a fuse panel of the character described which will prevent such displacement of the fuse when the line power switch is in closed position, which means, as will be fully hereinafter explained, co-operates in a novel manner with the first mentioned means to prevent insertion of improper conduction material into the fuse receptacle as set forth in the object aforesaid.

In addition to the foregoing objects, it is a further object of my invention to provide an improved fuse panel which will be smaller, more compact, less expensive, more reliable, and safer than, as well as free from said objections of, fuse panels such as heretofore produced.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be 1932, Serial No. 588,342

(Cl. 20o-50) understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a fuse panel embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional View of the panel taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Figure 2, but taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the panel.

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmental detail sectional views of the circuit protecting and fuse locking means, in diiierent positions.

Figure 'l is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 3 but taken on line 77 of Figure 1.

The fuse panel in the present embodiment of the invention comprises a body member 10 preierably formed of insulation material and having an upper portion 12 for fuse sockets 13, and a lower portion 14 on which is mounted switch mechanism 15. The lower portion 14 is formed in the top thereof with a recess. 16 which extends inwardly under the socket supporting portion 12 and has confined therein practically the entire switch mechanism, the portion 12 forming in part a cover for the recess and the mechanism therein.

Arranged over the section 14, and more specically the portion not covered by the section 12, is a lever 17 for operating the switch. This lever lies when in operative position with all portions thereof substantially below the top of the fuse sockets, and thus with the switch mechanism confined within the sections 12 and 14 not only is the mechanism fully protected but the panel may be made relatively small and compact and with the sockets and switch in position to be conveniently reached and manipulated without danger of electric shock. Furthermore this compact assembly of the panel parts as a small unit makes for an appreciable saving in parts and material, renders the panel relatively inexpensive, and simplifies and reduces the cost of installation.

As here shown, the panel block or body is of three piece construction comprising the upper portion 12, the lower portion 14, and an intermediate member 18 inserted between the other portions to facilitate assemblage of the device. The portion 12 is in the form of a rectangular block carrying the sockets 13 on its upper side, and the member 18 cooperates with the portion 14 in forming opposed side walls 21 and an end wall 22 of transverse cavity or recess 16.

The switch mechanism 15 is so designed as to take up but little space and to be operated with a comparatively short movement of the level1 17, the contacting parts being wholly concealed in the space between and protected by parts 12 and 14. Forming a part of the switch mechanism are two xed Contact elements 24 tted in recesses 26 in the end wall 22. Conductor strips 27 are iixed at certain ends to contact members 24 and bear upon the member 18 with their other ends secured to and electrically connected with the center contacts 28 of the fuse sockets 13. These strips aid in holding the contacts 24 place in the recesses 26. From associate contact members 2S of the sockets 13 conductor strips 31 lead in the usual manner to binding posts 32 on the member 14.

The movable unit of the switch is here shown as contact elements 33 in the form of elongated bars and are carried by and concealed within a slide member 34 of insulation material. This member is slidably engaged between the parts 12 and 14 of the panel and has provided on the under side thereof spaced grooves 36 which extend from the inner end of the mei ber to points near but spaced from the outer end thereof. The contacts are disposed in the grooves 36 in relation to the contacts 24 so as to be movable into and out of engagement with the latter on movement of the slide member. The design and construction of the switch, as used here, are preferably similar to that shown in my copending application, Serial No. 505,329, filed December 29, 1930, whe ein a detailed description or" such switch is included.

Electrical connection of the contacts 33 with binding posts 38 on the member 14 is provided for through lexible or pig tail conductors 39. It is noted that the grooves or recesses 3S in the slide member 34 are suihciently large and heavy to accommodate thesV connections and permit of free sliding of the member 34 relative thereto. The lever 17 of the switch mechanism is in the form of a bell crank pivoted as at 41 on the side of the upper panel member 12. On the top of the slide 34 lugs 42 which provide pin 43 for reception in notches 44 in the ends of the lever. It will nov-f be apparent that on appropriate movement of the lever 17, the slide 34 will move to engage or disengage the switch contact but slight movement of the lever being required in either case.

Means are provided on my panel, which means in the present ca se is associated with the switch aforesaid, for preventing the closure of the electric circuit throught the panel in the event of an insertion of a coin or the like into the sockets 13 when such an insertion is deliberately made to supplement a burned out fuse. In the present embodiment this means comprises guards 46 in the form of projections provided on the slide member 34 and arranged to move into and out of the socket on movement of the switch meinber 34 to closed and open positions respectively, the guard being so arranged that when moved into the socket, the top of the guard will be above the top of the contact 28. Preferably two projections of the guards are associated with each socket and as will be clear from Figures 1 and 4, openings 48 are provided at the base o2" the sockets tor reception of the projections. The projections and openings therefor are so related to the socket that one projection will lie at each side of Contact 28 but at the same time permitting the ordinary fuse plug, because of its reduced end portion, to make proper electrical connection when operatively disposed in the socket. However, upon the insertion of a coin into the socket the same will be held spaced from the contact 28 by the guards 46. Furthermore should the coin be placed into the socket while the switch is open and the guards thus withdrawn, the coin, even though in contact with element 28, would lie directly in the path of the inner end 47 of the guards so that the slide member 34 could not be moved to place the switch contacts 24 and 33 into operative engagement to make the electric circuit through the panel. Where attempt is made to cross the gap by wrapping around the burned out fuse a covering of conducting material such as metal foil so as the latter will be positioned about the lower end of the fuse in a manner contacting the terminals 28 and 29 oi the fuse socket, the ends 47 of the guards will, on the inward movement of the slide, engage the foil on their inward movement and mutlate the foil suiiicient to sever any circuit ormed within the socket.

1n the present embodiment I have also as aforesaid provided means to prevent the insertion into or withdrawal of a fuse from the sockets while the switch contacts 24 and 33 are engaged. By such means there is eliminated the danger of arcing brought about by severing the contact between the socket and fuse when the switch is closed. As here shown, said means comprises a locking member 51 preferably in the form of a lever conveniently fulcrumed at its upper end in a recess 52 ci the section 12 and engaging at its lower end in a depression 53 in the slide 34 so that on reciprocation of the latter the lever will be rocked about the fulcrum point. The depression is somewhat elongated in order that the slide may have more movement than the lever. The sockets, as will be clear from Figures l and 2, are formed with openings 54 in the sides thereof and means are provided on the lever to enter said openings and forcibly grip the plug to revent its rotation in either direction in the socket. The lat er means is in the form of extensions 56 on the lever which have provided on the portions thereof arranged to extend into the sockets serrated faces 57 designed to engage the side of the fuse plug. It will now be understood that when the slide 34 is moved inwardly to closed position the lever will be correspondingly moved to grip the plug, and conversely when the slide is retracted to open the switch the lever will be moved to release the plug. 1t is to be noted that it is practically impossible for anyone to close the circuit by placing some flexible conducting material in the socket and forcing the material into desired contact by screwing the plug against the material, since with the switch in closed position and a layer of metal foil or the lire epcsited in the socket, the lever 51 will prevent the necessary amount of insertion of the fuse. And on the other hand, if the foil and plug are inserted before the switch is closed, the guards will be prevented from entering the socket to thus prevent the closing of the switch.

1t will now be clear that the fuse panel of my invention is well adapted to the accomplishment of the objects hereinbefore referred to.

I claim:

l. in a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle providing a break for an electrical transmission line, a switch mechanism movable from open to closed position and vice versa wired electrically in series with said receptacle to form in its closed position and with a fuse mounted in said receptacleV a closed line through said fuse and switch mechanism, and means operative upon placing the switch in closed position for preventing the insertion together with a fuse into the receptacle for closing the line substantially any conductor having the portion thereof for establishing contact in the receptacle of different form from the corresponding portion of the fuse.

2. In a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle providing a break for an electrical transmission line and arranged for the reception of a fuse for closing the line therethrough, a switch insaid line, and means movable into and out of said receptacle on closing and opening of the switch respectively.

3. In a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle providing a break for an electrical transmission line, a switch in said line, and means movable in the receptacle by and upon closing said switch.

4. A fuse panel for insertion in an electrical transmission line, comprising a switch in series in the line, a fuse receptacle providing a break in said line and having contacts within the receptacle, and a member movable in said receptacle together with the switch on movement thereof from open to closed position and vice versa, said member being required on the closing movement of the switch to move at least partially across the interior of the receptacle whereby the positioning of an object in the receptacle in the path of said member serving to bar the movement of said member will prevent the switch from closing.

5. In a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle for operatively mounting a fuse therein, a switch mechanism movable from open to closed position and vice versa, and means operable solely upon moving said switch to closed position to engage and prevent displacement of said fuse in said receptacle.

6. In a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle for oper-- atively mounting a fuse therein, a switch mechanism movable from open to closed position and vice versa, and means engaging said fuse and operable upon moving said switch to closed position to prevent displacement of said fuse in said receptacle.

7. In a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle, a switch mechanism movable from open to closed position an-d vice versa, and means extendable into said receptacle by and upon moving said switch mechanism to closed position to prevent insertion or withdrawal of a fuse in or from said receptacle.

8. In a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle, a switch in series with the receptacle, means operatively connected to the switch for movement therewith and arranged to move within the receptacle either with or without the fuse operatively disposed therein, said means serving to prevent the movement of the switch to closed position in the event its path of movement in the receptacle is obstructed by any object therein, and means operative to engage or release the fuse to permit or prevent its displacement in the receptacle respectively as the switch is placed in closed or open position.

9. In a fuse panel for connection with an electrical circuit, fuse mounting means, a switch movable from open to closed position, and means movable with said switch adapted on movement of said switch to closed position to engage and grip a fuse mounted in said first means to retain the fuse in such means and upon movement of said switch to open position to disengage and permit removal of a fuse from said mounting means.

10. In a fuse panel, a fuse receptacle providing a break for an electrical transmission line, a switch in series in the line, and means movable in said receptacle by and upon the closing of said switch whereby on obstruction of the path of the means in the receptacle the switch will be prevented from closing.

11. In a fuse panel, a body defining a housing, fuse receptacles in the outer face of the body and in front of said housing, fixed switch contacts within the housing and operatively connected with said receptacles, a slidable cover member on said body member arranged to extend into said housing, means for sliding said member, contact members fixed to and covered by said member and arrange-d to be moved into and out of engagement with said fixed contacts upon sliding movement of said member, binding posts on said body beneath said cover member, and flexible conductors electrically connecting the last named contact members with said binding posts.

12. In a fuse panel, a body defininig a housing, fuse receptacles in the outer face of the body and in front of said housing, fixed switch contacts within the housing and operatively connected with said receptacles, a slidable cover member on said body member arranged to extend into said housing, means for sliding said member, contact members fixed to and covered by said member and arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with said fixed contacts upon sliding movement of said member, binding posts on said body beneath said cover member, exible conductors electrically connecting the last named contact members with said binding posts, said movable contacts being laterally movable at their free ends, and spring means urging said movable contacts laterally into engagement with said iixed contacts.

13. In a fuse panel, a body defining a housing, fuse receptacles in the outer face of the body and in front of said housing, iixed switch contacts within the housing and operatively connected with said receptacles, a slidable cover member on said body member arranged to extend into said housing, means for sliding said member, contact members fixed to' and covered by said member and arranged to be moved into and out of engagement with said fixed contacts upon sliding movement of said member, binding posts on said body beneath said cover member, flexible conductors electrically connecting the last named contact members with said binding posts, said movable contacts being laterally movable at their free ends, spring means urging said movable contacts laterally into engagement with said fixed contacts, and guide portions adjacent said fixed contacts and on which the free ends of the movable contacts move into and out of engagement with said fixed contacts.

14. A body having a recess therein, fixed contacts located in said recess and covered by said body, a cover member slidable in said recess, means on the body for sliding said member, binding posts on said body, contact members carried and covered by said cover member and movable therewith into and out of position to engage said fixed contacts, and iiexible conductors connecting said movable contacts with said binding posts.

15. A body having a recess therein, xed contacts located in said recess and covered by said body, a cover member slidable in said recess, means on the body for sliding said member, binding posts on said body, contact members carried and covered by said cover member and movable therewith into and out of position to engage said fixed contacts, exible conductors connecting said movable contacts with said binding posts, fuse sockets on said body member in front of said recess, and means of electrical connection between said sockets and said xed conductors.

16. In a fuse panel, a body block enlarged for approximately one half its area and having a recess in said enlarged portion, fuse sockets on the outer face of said enlargement and in front of and in line` with said recess, xed contacts in said recess, conductors electrically connecting the contacts with said sockets, a cover member slidable on said block and extending into said recess, a lever pivoted on said enlargement and to said cover member, contact members carried beneath and covered by said cover member with their free ends extended beyond one end of the cover member and arranged to engage the xed contacts, binding posts on said body, and exible conductors joining the binding posts and said movable contacts.

17. In a fuse panel, a body block enlarged for approximately one half its area and having a recess in said enlarged portion, fuse sockets on theV outer face of said enlargement and in front of and in line with said recess, xed contacts in said recess, conductors electrically connecting the contacts with said sockets, a cover member slidable on said block and extending into said recess, a lever pivoted on said enlargement and to said cover member, contact members carried beneath and covered by said cover member with their free ends extended beyond one end of the cover member and arranged to engage the xed contacts, binding posts on said body, and flexible conductors joining the binding posts and said movable contacts, said binding posts and conductors being covered at all times by said sliding cover.

CHARLES A. GOOD. 

